Terry loop knitted fabric



Feb. 279 1934q H. MCADAMS TERRY LOOP KNITTED FABRIC Filed'Jan. 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ggg. 1.

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TERRY LOOP KNITTED FABRIC n In! il l\ n Inl Harry NC/ams,

Feb. 27, 1934. H. MCADAMS 1,949,319

RY LOOP KNITTED Filed Jan. 4, 1930 4 sheets-sheet :s

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H. MCADAMS TERRY LOOP KNITTED FABRIC Filed Jan. 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .n 'lf 11m@ 15%/ MII/,IMU L. A u 2. w'

Il Il wue/wtoz Harry Mc cmms,

Patented Fein. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES TERRY LOOP KNITTED FABRIC Harry McAdams,

Application January 4,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in terry loop knitted fabrics.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved fabric comprising a knitted base web having looping yarns introduced therewith, either knitted or unknitted with the knitted stitches or loops of the base web, and projecting in long prominent loose loops at both faces or sides of the base web, with the said loose loops each several times the length of the loops of the knitted base web; the loops of the looping yarns being introduced in such profusion and close relative proximity that, in the finished fabric, the base web will be completely hidden from view, and will only be observable by brushing or turning back the loose terry loops.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved terry loop knitted fabric which consists of a single base knitted web, having interknitted therewith a plurality of terry looping yarns which project in long prominent loops from both faces of the base web and are interknitted insuch relation with the base web stitches that the fabric may be produced relatively economically but in appearance will be of high quality.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved terry loop knitted fabrics of the type set forth in, and produced with the mechanism described in my U. S. Patents Nos. 1,180,167; 1,800,092; 1,777,699; 1,805,339 and 1,814,944.

For many years it has been desired by manufacturers to produce a practical terry loop knitted fabric capable of use for washcloths, toweling, mats, bathrobes, and the like, having loops freely outstanding and projecting therefrom much the same as in conventional woven Turkish toweling. In the practical art many terry loop knitted fabrics have heretofore been marketed, but due to the difficulty experienced in introducing the terry looping yarns with the base knitted web, it is well known that such prior terry loop knitted fabrics have been of poor quality; the terry loops so sparsely located, or of such short lengths and projection from the base web, that the latter is readily exposed without brushing the loops aside, and produced a low quality product that has not met market requirements suicient to induce the public to purchase a terry loop knitted washrag in preference to conventional woven Turkish washrags and toweling or like articles. The improved fabric of my invention, however, has been produced upon a practical and commercial scale by reason of the prominent projections of the terry loops in such compacted relation with the knitted base web that the latter is completely hidden by the crowded and matted terry loops of the looping yarns.

A further object of this invention is the pro- Atlantic City, N. J.

1930. Serial No. 418,582

(Cl. Sti- 191) vision of an improved terry loop knitted fabric adaptable for use as washrags, toweling, and the like, wherein the terry looping yarns are knitted in such relation with the stitches of a base fabric, so as to prevent unraveling thereof during use, and at the same time provide relatively long and prominently projected terry loops in the finished product, producing a high quality product.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved terry loop fabric, which includes a base knitted web resembling plain stitching, which has introduced therein terry yarns of a somewhat heavier nature, looped in an approved relation with the stitches of the base knitted web and projecting in long and prominent loops at both faces of the base knitted web in such manner that the base web is not visible in the finished product.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved fabric including a base knitted web having associated therewith terry looping yarns introduced in multiple parallelism at each of the faces therewith and projecting prominently in long multiple terry loops at both faces thereof to provide a high quality product whereon the terry loops are matted and crowded together in such proximity as to completely hide the base knitted web and produce a heavy, absorbent, soft, and highly desirable fabric, which is adaptable for a number of uses, such as washrags, toweling, and the like.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutl the several views,

Figure 1 is an enlarged, distorted, and rather diagrammatic representation of the preferred type of terry loop knitted fabric, showing the relation in which the terry looping yarns are associated in their stitched relation with the loops of the plain base knitted web, and with respect to a weft yarn associated therein.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken through one of the wales of the base knitted web of the type of fabric of Figure 1, showing an enlarged, but substantially accurate relation, as to relative size, of the knitting and terry loop forming yarns, and their relative association. v

Figure 3 is an enlarged, distorted, and rather diagrammatic representation of another type of fabric, showing the relation of knitting yarns forming the stitching loops of the plain knitted web with respect to a pair of terry looping yarns and a weft yarn; the type of fabric being associated with the base web in substantially the same relation as incorporated in the type of fabric shown in Figure 1, except that multiple terry looping yarns of lighter weight are introduced 1n parallelism with and at both sides of the base web.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through one of the wales of the base knitted web of the type of fabric of Figure 3, showing an enlarged but substantially accurate relation, as to relative size, of the knitting and terry loop forming yarns, and their relative association.

Figure 5 is another type of fabric, such as has been set forth in my U. S. Patent #1,805,339, above mentioned, showing an enlarged, distorted, and diagrammatic representation of the relation of knitting yarns forming the loops or stitches of the plain base web with respect to two terry looping yarns and a stretch preventing filler or weft yarn.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken through one of the Wale lines of the base knitted web of the type of fabric of Figure 5, showing more accurately the relation of the loops of the terry yarns with respect to the stitch formation of the base knitted fabric.

Figure 7 is a distorted, diagrammatic representation of an enlarged fabric, knitted after the manner set forth in my U. S. Patent #1,777,699, above mentioned, showing more particularly the relative inter-knitting of main knitting yarns of a base web and two terry looping yarns or threads therewith; the drawing not being an exact simulation of the resultant fabric, inasmuch as in the resultant fabric the terry looping yarns completely hide the base knitted portion of the fabric.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken transversely through a wale line of the fabric of Figure 7, showing somewhat the relation in which the fabric would appear in cross section.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, enlarged, distorted, and somewhat diagrammatic representation of a further modified type of fabric, as has been disclosed and produced in the manner set forth in my U. S. Patent #1,800,092, showing more particularly the terry loop arrangement in a base knitted web.

Figure 10 is a further modif-led type of fabric such as has been set forth in my U. S. Patent 1,180,167, showing a fragmentary, diagrammatic, and rather distorted relation of the association of the knitting yarns of a base web in relation to the terry looping yarns.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred and modified embodiments of the improved terry loop knitted fabric, the letter A may generally designate the type of fabric shown in Figures 1 and 2, B the type of fabric shown in Figures 3 and 4, C the type of fabric shown in Figures 5 and 6, D the type vof fabric shown in Figures 7 and 8, E the type of fabric shown in Figure 9, and F the type of fabric shown in Figure 10.

Referring to the fabric A shown in Figures 1 and 2, the same designates a base knitted web formed of two knitting threads or yarns 15 and 16, which are knitted in plain stitch loops. They respectively knit alternate courses in the fabric, according to the arrangement which has been given the numerals in Figure 1 of the drawings. The knitting is accomplished so that one face of the base web may be designated as the wale side of the fabric, the opposite side the connecting thread side. The knitting yarn 15 in alternate horizontal courses provides the knitting or stitch loops 17, which are of course inter-knitted with the knitted or stitch loops 18 of the knitting yarn 16 in the remaining horizontal courses. The

fabric as shown in Figure 1 shows the connecting thread side of the fabric, which is the outer side of the fabric as it is knitted upon the machine set forth in my U. S. Patent 1,814,944. In the same horizontal courses of the base web wherein the stitch loops 17 of the knitting yarn 15 occur, there is introduced therewith a terry looping yarn 19, which forms long and prominently extending terry loops 22 at the outer or connecting thread side of the fabric. This terry looping yarn 19 is arranged in the finished fabric so that the cross portions 20 thereof extend across the outer sides of the stitch loops 17 of the base knitted web, and therefrom through the spaces between the stitch loops 17 to the inside or wale side of the base knitted web. Therefrom the terry looping yarn 19 extends about the inner side of the cross portions 21 forming part of the base web knitting yarn 15, and thence being turned through the spaces between the stitch loops 18 of the knitting yarn 16, and projecting to the outer or connecting thread side of the base knitted web in long prominently projecting terry loops 22. It is thus to be noted that the terry looping yarn 19 is caught at both sides of the base web and projected to the outer side of the terry loop knitted fabric in the relation shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In the same formative relation wherein the terry looping yarns 19 are provided at the connecting thread side of the base knitted web, a

stretch preventing ller or weft yarn 23 is interwoven with the fabric, and so manipulated with respect to the looping and terry yarns that the same extends taut across the outer or connecting thread sides of alternate stitch loops 17 of the knitting yarn 15, in unlocked relation therewith. Therefrom the weft yarn extends across the outer sides of the stitch loops 18 of the knitting yarn 16, but at the inner or wale side of the base knitted web where the knitting yarn 15 turns at the ends of its connecting portions 2l into the knitted loops 18 of the yarn 16. This locks the weft yarn 23 at locations 24 in alternate wales near the bights of the stitch loops 18 of the yarn 16; the weft yarn being so arranged that the connecting portions 20 of the terry yarn 19 extend across the adjacent portions of the weft yarn 23, at the outer or connecting thread side of the base web, as shown in Figure 1, to provide a semi-locked condition at the connecting portions 20 of the terry yarn 19 between the loops 22 thereof. Due to the manner in which the knitting and terry looping yarns are introduced to provide a commercial fabric, the nished product will have a very crowded arrangement of yarns immediately at the base web, quite dissimilar to the loose arrangement shown in Figures l and 2, which has thus been shown for purposes of relative association of yarns only.

While the described arrangement of terry loops 22 of the loop yarn 19 enables the terry yarn to be held very securely in the fabric, yet if an end forms on the fabric the same will tend to ravel. To prevent this, it is preferred to knit the terry looping yarns 19 on every second, third, fourth, every fifth, every sixth, or every seventh needle in any horizontal course of the base web in which the same may appear. It is known that the knitting of a terry looping yarn with every knitted loop of the base yarn not only increases the bulk of the base web, without securing any superior results, but such knitting will result in the shortening of the terry loops at their projection from the base web. This is a real detriment in a quality product. It must be borne in mind that terry loops of indefinite length cannot be taken care of during a knitting operation, and in the provision of a quality product, while the terry loops in the finished product should be relatively long, and secured to the base web so that they shall not unravel, yet due to the limited length to which they may be projected upon the needles of a knitting machine during the formative operation, a very large problem has been provided. This problem is solved in the fabric A by knitting the terry looping yarn 19 with the yarn 15 of the base web, upon every sixth loop 17 in any horizontal course. The fabric A shows the stitch or knitted loops 25 of the terry yarn 19 in their knitted relation with the loops 17 of the base knitted yarn.

The second terry looping yarn 26 is introduced upon the base knitted web of the fabric A to provide long projecting terry loops 27 at the inside or Wale face of the fabric A. The yarn 26 is applied with connecting portions 28 floated tightly across the loops 17 at the connecting thread side of the web and introduced between the web loops 17 in long terry loops 27 projecting transversely at the Wale side of the fabric. The positioning and arrangement of the terry loop yarn 26 is simpler than the arrangement of the terry loop forming yarn 19, and it is to be noted that the connecting portions 28 are not so well locked in with the base web stitches. To compensate for this the terry looping yarn 26 is knitted into the stitches 18 of the base knitted web in with every third web loop in the horizontal course of the base knitted web in which the terry looping yarn 26 appears, as shown in Figure 1. These knitted loop portions 29 of the terry looping yarn 26 follow exactly about the stitch loops 1S of the base knitted web, and project across the outer or connecting thread sides of the base web, across the stitch loops 17, and the terry loops 27 project between the loops 17 in long prominently extending terry loops at the Wale side of the fabric A. I do not restrict myself to the knitting in of the terry looping yarn 26 with every third knit loop in the course of the base knitted web in which the same appears.

In the fabric A of Figures l and 2, the terry looping yarns 19 and 26 are preferably of a weight appreciably heavier than the weight of the knitting yarns 15 and 16 of the base knitted web. The filler yarn 23 may or may not be provided, or may or may not be heavier than the other yarns. This relation of yarns provides a quality product wherein the terry loops at opposite faces of the fabric are crowded together, sufficiently prominent to hide the base knitted web.

Referring to the type of fabric B, shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the same shows terry looping yarns interknitted with a base knitted web in exactly the same relation as has been shown for the fabric A of Figures l and 2. The modification in fabric B over fabric A lies in the fact that in lieu of providing a single terry looping yarn 19 for the production of terry loops at the connecting thread side or outer side of the base web, I prefer to use a plurality, preferably two paralleling terry looping yarns 19a and 19h, which are lighter in weight than the terry looping yarn 19 of the fabric A, but which project in prominent loops in the same relation on the fabric B as for the fabric A, and hence the same reference characters have been given to fabric B as for fabric A, insofar as applicable. Furthermore, in lieu of the single terry looping yarn 26 which projects terry loops on the fabric A at the Wale side of the fabric, I prefer to use in the fabric B a pair of lighter paralleling terry looping yarns 2621 and 26", associated in the same relation with the base knitted web as for the fabric A, and similar reference characters have been given corresponding parts in the types of fabrics A and B, so far as applicable, as can readily be understood.

In the type of fabric C shown in Figures 5 and 6, a plain knitted base web is provided by means of knitting the same out of a pair of knitting yarns 30 and 31; the knitting yarn 30 being employed in alternate courses to knit the stitch loops 32, which are interknitted with the stitch loops 33 of the other knitting yarn 31 in adjacent courses. A pair of terry looping yarns are caught, but not interknitted withthe base knitted web, and alternately project in prominent relation from opposite faces of the base knitted web in lines paralleling the courses of the base knitted web. Thus, as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the terry loops 35 from the first terry looping yarn 34 project all to the Wale side of the base fabric, in closely packed relation, so that unless the loops are brushed aside the base fabric formedA by the two knitting yarns of the base web 30 and 31 cannot be seen. In like manner the terry loops 37 of a second terry looping yarn 36 project at the opposite or connecting thread side of the base web', in closely packed relation, so that the base fabric or web is not visible unless the loops are held aside. In Figure 5 is shown also a weft yarn 38 in the fabric C. The fabric C has the first terry looping yarn 34 introduced with its loops loops of the terry looping yarn 34 are introduced, u

and the connecting portions of the second terry looping yarn 36 between the loops thereof are iioated tightly across the Wale side of the base web transversely across the stitches 32, as shown in Figure 5.

In conjunction with the loop placement of the l' second terry yarn 36, the weft yarn 38 is introduced during the knitting operation so as to hold the loops 37 of the second terry yarn 36 in an interlocked or projected relation, so that when the fabric is finished the loops will project with their connecting portions fioating across the wale side of the base fabric. The weft yarn 38 extends across the stitches 32 at the connecting thread side of the fabric, and extends therefrom across the connecting threads 39 between the stitch loops 33 of the knitting yarn 31, and pass across this connecting thread portion 39 at the wale side of the base fabric. Thus, the weft yarn closely follows the connecting thread portions 39 of the second knitting thread 31, zigzagging about the connecting portions 39 and across the stitch loops of both knitting yarns alternately from one knitting yarn to the other knitting yarn; the crossing of the same taking place at the connecting thread side of the fabric. In the actual knitted product the terry loops of both terry looping yarns at the base where they pass between the stitched loops of thebase knitted web are closely crowded together, and closely crowded With the weft yarn 38, so that there little liability of the looping yarns becon ii from their places. The freedom of space in the of `a pair of knitting yarns and fil, relatively caught in adjacent courses and respec.;T y providing the stitch loops 4Z and 43. A pair of teov loop forming yarns 7i) and 71 are provided, troduced so that one terry looping yarn is interknitted with pre erably each of the stitch loops of one of the knitting yarns e@ and projecting in long prominent free outstanding 'srry loops 70e at one face of the fabric a other terry looping yarn 71 interkntted Wi loops of the other knitting yarn in long prominent extending terry the opposite face of the fabric. show the terry yarns following about loops of the knitting yarns with respectively associated during ation; the terry looping yarns be tween the stitch loops of the we outstanding prominently project which produce a matted terry loop app at both sides of the single ply :niti. in simulation of the usual terry loop ment or" conventional Turkish were Referring to the type of fabric Figure 9 of the drawings, the saine means of mechanism substantially in my U. S. Patent #1,809,092. 1t is intended to represent exactly the type of fabric the mechanism of that patent.

distorted diagrammatic representatie; it is seen that a base knitted web is prot. of a single ply, in which a pair of knitting ya' is the stitch of the base knitted web, and e Will produce stitch loops 121 in ing Wales of the base knitted web; yarn 87 producing the stitch loops 120, ranged in straight portions 122 across v so as to produce loops 125 at one knitted Web, the saine being on the far se fabric as illustrated in -Figure 9, which in proximate relation With rerpect to ea er at said side of the fabric, in pro so that the stitches of the base web are unc; able unless the pile loops or terry loops of fabric are held back by hand or otherwise.

second terry loop thread or yarn 92 provides t loops 128 at the opposite face of the base ki i the same being the near side of the fab- 1 in Figure 9; said loops 128 lying in i ely spaced and packed relation between ops of the base fabric, and projectentiy as to render the stitch loops fabric unobservable unless the pile .ined back.

1c is shown the type of fabric F, ly as manufactured on the mae manner disclosed in my U. S. 131,137. In this type of fabric F, a web substantially the same as the web of the fabric E is shown, that web knitting yarns 61 and 63 knittiz of stitch loops 150 and alternate horizontal courses. as to the Wale arrangement in fabric, are so arranged, howtitch loops 150 of the knitting with the Wale arrangement of 5l of tl e second knitting yarn rovides a base knitted web in which yarns 6l and 63 have connecting respectively extending across the wales, and having the knitted web of the pair of terry looping yarns which are introduced with notion upon the base 162 at the opposite 'nitted web, in the spaces bebase knitted web. proj ct in closely packed reare very prominent in projection l characteristic of all of the desc ibed, that a single ply ply oase web, so that in is impossible to see the and stitches thereof without i e or terry loops of the terry every instance the type of s each of which project sevh of the stitch loops of the base knitted web. In some Ved fabrics, the terry loopiy heavier than the yarns eb, and Where this eA a plurality of the preferably introduced 'web paralle, to provide y loops each face of the base se arrangement of the web g yarns of the fabrics ed, may be made withthe spirit of the invention or ltted fabric having a knitted loops fori? ed from a multione seid yarns being proone face of the fabric between all of the stitch loops of the base web in any course across the fabric and extending across the stitches at the opposite face of the fabric, and another yarn being projected in terry loops from the last mentioned face of the fabric between all of the stitch loops in the same horizontal course from which the terry loops of the first mentioned yarn project, the second yarn extending across the stitch loops at the side of the fabric from which the rst mentioned terry loops project,

2. A terry loop knitted fabric having a base knitted web and terry yarns associated therewith, one of the terry yarns being projected in long terry loops from one face of the fabric between all of the stitch loops in a horizontal course of the base web across the fabric and extending across the stitch loops at the opposite face of the fabric at their connecting portions, and another terry looping yarn projected in long prominently projecting terry loops on said last mentioned face of the base web between all of the stitch loops in the same horizontal course of the base web from which the terry loops of the rst mentioned terry yarn project, the second mentioned terry yarn extending across said stitch loops at the side of the base web from which the first nientioned terry yarn loops project, said terry yarn loops projecting in this arrangement from both faces of the fabric in a closely packed relation to hide the base web and protect the connecting portions of the terry looping yarns which cross the stitch loops of the base web against unraveling and loosening.

3. A terry loop knitted fabric having a base knitted web and terry yarns associated therewith, one of the terry yarns being projected in long terry loops from one face of the fabric between all of the stitch loops in a horizontal course of the base web across the fabric and extending across the stitch loops at the opposite face of the fabric at their connecting portions, another terry looping yarn being projected in long prominently projecting terry loops on said last mentioned face of the base web between all of the stitch loops in the same horizontal course of the base web from which the terry loops of the first mentioned terry yarn project, the second mentioned terry yarn extending across said stitch loops at the side of the base web from which the first mentioned terry yarn loops project, said terry yarn loops yprojecting in this arrangement from both faces of the fabric in a closely packed relation to hide Vthe base web and protect the connecting portions of the terry looping yarns which cross the stitch loops of the base web against unraveling and loosening, and a weft yarn introduced with the base knitted web in a taut relation paralleling the courses with the stitch loops thereof.

4. In a terry loop knitted fabric, a base knitted web having a multiplicity of terry loops which are introduced through the spaces between the loops of the base web at both faces of the base web, with the connecting portions of the terry looping yarns extending across the faces of the stitch loops of the base webs opposite the faces of the base web from which the respective loops of the terry yarns project and in close tting relation therewith, the terry loops being each several times the length of the stitch loops of the base knitted web and being closely packed together so as to secrete the base knitted web.

5. The method of knitting terry looping fabric which consists in knitting a base web having stitches, introducing a terry loop providing yarn from one side of the base web between the stitch loops of the base web and projecting the said terry looping yarn in long loops at the opposite face of the base web, introducing a weft yarn to follow the course of the terry loop providing yarn and therewith holding the loops of the terry loop providing yarn in the spaces between the stitches, and continuing the knitting of the fabric.

6. As an article of manufacture a terry loop knitted fabric comprising a plain knitted base fabric having a multiplicity of paralleling terry looping yarns partially interknitted with the base web with some only of the base web loops and projecting at one face of the fabric in long outstanding closely packed and matted terry loops to substantially hide the base knitted web at that face, and a multiplicity of other paralleling terry looping yarns partially interknitted with the base web with some only of the base web loops and projecting at the opposite face of the base web in long outstanding prominent and closely packed terry loops substantially hiding the base web.

'7. In a terry loop knitted fabric the combination of a base knitted web formed of plain knitting with a pair of knitting yarns having interknitted stitch loops, a pair of terry looping yarns, one of said terry looping yarns being interknitted with only a few of the stitch loops of the base knitted web in certain courses and projecting in successive spaces between each of the stitch loops of the base knitted web in long prominently eX- tending terry loops at one face of the base web so as to substantially hide the said base web at that face of the same, and the second terry looping yarn being interknitted with only a few of the stitch loops of the base knitted web in the remaining courses of the base web and projecting in successive spaces between each of the stitch loops in long prominently extending terry loops at the opposite face of the fabric from the terry loops of the rst mentioned terry looping yarn and in such closely crowded relation as to substantially hide the said face of the base web from which the said terry loops of the second terry looping yarn project.

8. In a terry loop knitted fabric the combination of a base knitted web formed of plain knitting with a pair of knitting yarns having interknitted stitch loops, a pair of terry looping yarns, one of said terry looping yarns being interknitted with only a few of the stitch loops of the base knitted web and projecting through each of the spaces between the stitch loops in alternate courses in long prominently extending terry loops at a face of the fabric, the second terry looping yarn being held in place with the stitch loops of the base knitted web and projecting therefrom through each of the spaces between the stitch loops of the base web in the remaining courses in 12.5;

long prominently extending terry loops at the opposite side of the fabric from that side to which the terry loops of the yarn first mentioned project.

HARRY McADAMS. 

